"Knight Rider" FBI Agent's Bisexuality May Be Dropped
When AfterEllen.com spoke further with the producers about whether Rivai is still bisexual, Thompson said: "I'm trying to make a show that's about this team; I don't know what she is. When I saw the two-hour … I went, what did that scene mean? Does that mean she's gay or does it mean she's bisexual? She picked this chick up or — I didn't understand what it meant, personally."
When this reporter said that the scene seemed fairly clear, Thompson elaborated: "It was very suggestive, yes. But I still went, does that mean she's gay and picks up people just as a whim because she's an FBI agent? So she's not afraid that they're gonna rip her off because she has a gun? I'm like, what did that mean? She flashes the badge and the gun — like what does that mean? She flashed the badge and the gun to get the chick in bed? I mean … if you're gonna do it, you should do it. That's my opinion. It shouldn't be suggestive, it should be just period."
In contrast, Dave Bartis, who did work on the two-hour movie, was not confused about what the scene meant. "That was my preference," he said when asked whether Rivai is bisexual, "because I thought that was very interesting. It left a lot of story lines open, a lot of possibility. So we were careful not to say one way or another."
Thompson seemed unhappy with the way Rivai's sexuality was raised in the movie. "I didn't understand it on a number of levels," he said of the sexually suggestive scene, "'cause there was no payoff. It didn't go anywhere. I didn't see her — I didn't see anybody talk about it, you know, and to me, if you're gonna do something, you should do it and make it a part of the thing."
Asked if the scene was handled in a salacious way, Bartis answered frankly: "We're doing a show that's kind of salacious. Our show is supposed to be kind of sexy, and you're also seeing Mike in bed with a girl who almost has no clothes on, and another girl comes in the room, so is that any more remarkable?" He was referring to a scene in the two-hour movie that strongly suggests Mike was involved in a threesome.
"I wanted to have skin in the show," Bartis said. "I wanted to have a sexy show. Sexy guys, sexy girls, fast cars. It's pretty fun."
Bartis' desire to produce a sexy show may be limited by the fact that Knight Rider will air at 8 p.m. on Wednesday nights. Thompson cited that time slot as a reason for why he wasn't sure whether Rivai's character could remain bisexual. "We're also an 8 o'clock show," he said, "and I don't know what they're going to let us do. I get nailed on everything in standards-and-practice world."
He skirted the question of why a bisexual character would need to engage in explicit sexual activity on the air, but Poitier clearly connected on-screen sexual activity with the character's sexual orientation. "I think because we're on at 8 o'clock, it's a little bit more family hour, maybe there will be less that they can show," she said.
She explained: "I don't know if they could the show the way that we did in the movie, like the girl you saw naked from the back and side; it was … explicit that they just had sex or whatever. I don't know what the rules are in terms of the 8 p.m. hour. From what I've been told, it's different. I know only because they've talked about Justin and Deanna's sex scenes and what they can and cannot do. … I don't know if they'll be able to go as far as they would have been had we done a sequel to the movie or had we been at 10 p.m."
Asked if producers were de-gaying Poitier's character, Bartis said: "That's not the case. … I want to introduce characters that are not remarkable in their sexuality. It's not remarked upon, it's a fact of life, as Syd said about her character, her generation … and I want to see that reflected in television the way it is for her generation."
In response to the same question, Thompson said that de-gaying her was "not my intention at all," but then he added, "I have no intention of anything; I haven't thought that far ahead."
Both Thompson and Bartis are credited as executive producers on Knight Rider, but Thompson was presented by NBC as the show's head writer. Time will only tell whose vision for Carrie Rivai will make it onto television this fall.
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This is gonna suck!
This is gonna suck! It looks like the only options are for her to be straight or for her to be straight guy's fantasy of the freaky bisexual. I was planning on watching too....now I'm not so sure
"Power is never given back. When it's stolen, if you want it back, you have to take it." - M. Caballero
Journey2enlightenment.blogspot.com
Agreed...
...straight guy's fantasy of the freaky bisexual.
Because of course we're all bisexual just to please men, right. LOL Stereotypes just suck and pandering to them doesn't help.
And what's this about equating orientation with 'activity'? I kinda like the fact that they may not show any 'activity' because it seems to create a more credible character.
Oh man
Well, there goes my only reason for watching it...
- - - - - - - - - -
-Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
I blog, therefore, I am
Crossed off!
Surprised?
Not really...
I can't even think straight...
Nope.
I wouldn't have watched it with your eyes
Their hedging their bets
Stupid excuses
There are plenty of hetero couples on TV that do not engage in “activity”, yet they are in a relationship or dating. The relationship is well known and shown on the show. Why can't a gay or bisexual character do the same? It's like they don't take gay relationships seriously, that it is only about sex. Using their time slot as an excuse says that this is something that is inappropriate for families to see on TV.
I hate when people make excuses—they just sound lame.
Wow
Agreed
Oh I just wanted to add this...
"Gary really was given sort of carte blanche when we brought him on board, to not be limited by what had been done in the two-hour movie," said executive producer Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith). "And having sat in the writers' room with them, the stuff that he's managed to come up with for … the first eight episodes are so imaginative. A question like that almost feels small," he said, referring to the question about whether or not Rivai is still queer.
~~~~~
Kiss my butt!
Yeah, because the tv series...I am sure...will be of such an intellectual standard and address such globally-sweeping issues that concern us all as human beings...asking if they are going to mess with a key component that was revealed of this character is just so so pedestrian.
Wow, no wonder why the majority of the network shows are complete and total crap with guys who know how to shovel it in charge of the shows!
Disappointed but not surprised
I'm disappointed but not surprised.
So, it's ok to show the male lead promiscuously in bed with two women at the same time, but a bi-female is inappropriate for the family hour of 8 PM?
Wow...
No private life is ok, turning her straight is not
I don't care if they don't show anyone's private lives, thereby not actually de-gaying her but just not showing it. That would make sense in light of what he was saying.
However, that is not the same as turning her straight, and giving her a private life but with a man. In fact, I think they'd have to discuss her private life a lot more if they suddenly got her with a man, because they'd have to explain why, whereas if they kept her with women it can just be assumed that she's gay, move on.
I don't really have high hopes though, the movie was not exactly emmy material, and I doubt the show will last too long. Her scene, while fun, seemed completely random and there for no reason (not that I was really complaining...).
she better stay gay
Where did you get the idea that her character was ever bisexual? It is clear as day that her character is/was gay. Making her bisexual was only hinted at by the actress not the writers nor the producers.
8pm means you can get away with more sex and more violance. Besides I have found that the later the show starts the longer the show stays on the air. ER, HOUSE, any CSI show they all air in the 8,9, 10pm time slot.
So that one guy's 8pm excuse was nothing more then a lamass excuse from an idiot that didn't know what he was talking about.
-Nathiest
the devil is in the details
I agree
What a shame
Snowgirl41
"Every person in the world has a purpose for being here—a calling".
honestly disappointing
i am honestly disappointed because it's obvious that the character will no longer be bisexual...or at the very least a lesbian. i didn't get a chance to see the movie but i read about it and it looked as if the bisexuality of the character would be interesting and possibly done right. i may still watch the show but i see this as a kick in the teeth. what does 8 pm have to do with anything? heh. half the crap on primetime could be considered "not right for family hour".
~i am bisexual. you are confused.~
The Lo Down fan forum: http://www.afterellen.com/node/34821
Eh,
it wouldn't surprise me at all if they decided that she is suddenly straight. The scene left no question whatsoever that she is gay and prone to picking up cute blondes and letting sleep over. I want to be Carrie when I grow up.
Anyway, I actually missed the movie when it originally aired. I found out about the scene and downloaded it. Honestly, the only reason I would watch this show is A) Carrie stays gay and B)I'm in love with KITT.
I clipped the scene and uploaded it. So, if you haven't seen it, here it is...
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1553506/agent_carrie_rivai/
Pandering..pandering